Art and apparatus of buoyant garments



im 13, w31,

H. BQND ETAL,

ART AND APPARATUS OF BUOYANT GARMENTS Filed Aug. 19. M929 Him BUN@Lizmsiw 5.5mm

Fmi.,

Patented lan. 13, 1931 insana g isi-ares lParar vreis HrLn Bonn .annELIZABETH noNnQor MnMrHrs, 'rnnnnssnn ART AND APPAnArpsorfBUoYAnrsaaivinnrsk Application. filed Augus'tvl), 1929. Serial No. 386,399.

'l` his invention relates to improvements in devices designed forfacilitating swimming, 'and-to the art of producing suchldevices, and

l more particularly to buoyant garments sus- 6 ceptible of variablebuoyancy. i The essential object 'in vievv isthe combining-of maximumefficiency With greatest simplicity. A l fr Y 'y VAmong other and moredetailed objects are 10 the reduction ofthe garment to the formlof abelt; the formation of such belt in amanner toadapt it to .fit personsof'diierentgirth Without variation in the actual overall length of theygarment the rendit-ion of the buoyancy y of the belt variable by thedemountable application and removal of buoyant elements thereto `andtherefromgand the provision of means for facilitating-ease and readinessof y application and Vremoval `of such elements 0 While effectivelyproviding against dislodgnient or displacement of the buoyant elements yduringuse. Y

lith these and othei objects in view as will in part be hereinafterstated and inpart become apparent, the 'invention comprises both the artof forming abuoyant garment andthe produc-t ofsuch art, wherebya's-imple and c flicieiitapparatus is produced Which may be easily andquickly donned fand removed', and may likewise Lhave its buoyancy variedaccording to the effective displacement i required Whether relativetothe proportional displacement of the user or tothe degree of theeiiiciency of thc user in svvimming.

The `invention also comprisescertain novel steps'and combinationsofsteps of the art of garment construction, and certain'novelconstructions, combinations, ,andV arrangements 4U of parts ofL garmentsaswill behereinafter made apparent and be subsequentlypointed cut in theappended claims..

` ln the accompanying drayvingsQ-f-` i Figure l is a perspective vicrvVofan ern- `4 5 bodiment of the features ofthe invention produced by theiniprovedart andv shown as applied and ,ready for use. l y

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken trans versely through the belt andglongitudinally through one of thebuoyant elements, the `sec`gitudinaledges With a marginal binding oi" tion being takenapproximatelyon the median line of the buoyant element. y

Figures 3 and l are end views of the belt vdetached and Vseen on areduced scale with terial, the netted material-being prcferredfor yitslightness "1 of Weight and its physical strength'. The strip ispreferably provided with selvage or like finish along` itslongitudinal'edges, and Where such selvage is'not initially present, anappropriate finish in l substitution thereof should beinade along theedges ofthe strip. The end edgesv of the strip YWill/ordinarily bevravwand require finishing'to the equivalentl'of a selvage. The strip ofnetted `or othermaterial must be `ofap- 'proxiiat'ely the lengthrequiredlfor the fin? 'islied belt, and should little more than ltwicethe Width thereof.

The strip is first provided along itsflonpreferable limply flexiblematerial, which may consist merely of'a heavy, strong" selvage or oftheadditionof a bindingl strip of tape. When tape isused, that commonlyemployed for-binding garments maybe utilized, or, Whenit is desired toincrease the elasticity lon'gitudinally, of the belt, a special tape maybe employed Vof the character of fabric commonly used asl surgicalbandages possessing a degree of elasticity inherent incident to theconcatenation of the threads ofthe 'fabric Without employment of rubberorv like elastic. The tape or lilre binding material is preferably seWed to thebeltforming faby ric, but may be otherwise secured thereto'as wf' Y proximate contact' with the edge of the first folded part, sothat the thus folded' belt-'-V forming strip will beapproximatelyone-half of its original unfoldedwidth. Then, the thus folded strip issecured by a series of transversely located lines of stitching or otherappropriate securing means spaced` apartr longitudinally of the beltingto provide a series of transversely located pockets. each closed at bothends. and open only at the place of the selvaged edges or binding tapes.Said binding tapes being of lesselasticity than the netted fabric of thebelt produce a limiting strap causing the expression of greaterelasticity at the opposite side or vface of the pockets along the lineof said strap'. The result in the finished article is that the free areaenclosed by the belt, when the strap produced by the tape is exterior.of the belt, will be considerably less, as seen in Figure 3, than whenthe .said strapis encircled the pockets, as seen in Figure 4. y

It is clear that the method of folding of the belt-forming fabric andthe cross stitching thereof will result in the formation of a series ofpockets, as above stated, each of which has a relatively longsect-ionprefer'- ably amounting to almost the whole length of the pocket, and apreferably comparatively short opposing section, the selvage bindingtape demarking the .limits of said sections. Of course, otherproportions in the lengths of the pocket sections may bel provided whenand as found desirable.v llccessibilitj,L to the pocket sections isafforded by the nonattachment of the adjacentedges of the marginaltapes. j Y

When the belt fabricris thus completed, it remains only to providedetachable attaching means for the ends of the belt to vcomplete thesame. Such attaching means may be any appropriate type of buttons,buckles, hooks and eyes, or other detachable fasteners, as, for example,snap fastenersof the glove-button or automobile-curtain type.Appropriate tape or other binding is preferably secured to the ends oftheY belt for stabilizing purposes, but the use of such tape .is largelya matt-er of. choice.

VVhen thus completed, thepockets 'of the belt are designed and adaptedto demountably receive buoyant elements or units which may be insertedlongitudinally between the stitching ofthe fabric A are'finislied by theselvage'oi" ming' begins and progresses, less and less buoyancy will berequired, and decreasing buoyancy may be produced by removal ofsuccessive buoyant eleinents,care being preferably exercised toalternately removefrom approximately opposit-e portions to maintainsubstantial equilibrium.

. Of course, the belt may, and in most instances will be, preferablyconstructed in sections, three sections being preferred, one for theback and one foreach side at the front with Athe-separable endsoccurring between the two-front side sections. Other desirable` detailsmay beemployedas found preferable,

some'of which will be specifically pointed out withVV reference vto theaccoinpanyin drawings in which A indicates the beltfabric folded-at l,1, to provide the double thicknessand producethe pocketsections- Q, 2and 3, 3, resulting fromrthe transverse lines of l, l. The longitudinalmargins tapes 5, 5, providingthe access opening 6' to thepocketsections, 2 and 2. The terminal edges of thefabric A arepreferably bound by appropriate Vtapes 7, 7, which tapes carry thedetachable securing' means indicated -in the drawings as snap fasteners8, 8.Y The belt formed of such fabric is preferably divided at B', Binto a back section C, and front side sections D, D, the baeksectioiibeing connected tothe side sections-by appropriate straps v9,9-preferably of elastic material, such Vas garterelast-ic or the like,so Vas to provide desirable give and conformity to body contour andmovements. -VVVithineach pair of pocket'secti ons 2 3 is inserted ademountable buoyant element l0, each consisting preferably .of anVimpervious tube filled with 'kapola or other appropriate buoyantsubstance l1. The tube ofeach buoyant element may be' of'thin lrubberand is sealed at both ends, as at' l2, l2, to-prevent access of moistureto; the contained buoyant` substance.

Other substance may be `substituted for kapok, but kapok has been foundsuperior for v-most Apurposes because of its capacity toV remain-distended and' occupy large areas with comparatively small bulk otmaterial. lts capacity also toresist saturation in case of rupture ofone of the impervious tubes is a A further reason for` it-suse. It isnot desirable which are, so far as the present invention is openiconcerned, known structures. lt is desirable,

however, that tbc and shape ol each buoyant element l0 be proport'oiiedto adapt the ele-.nient te the respective pocket scc ions 2 and 8 and toapplication and removal thereto and therefrom through the access open-Ainiis 6. Y

`ln operation, the several pockets being lille-:l with the demountablebuoyant ele* niente, tlifl belt is applied to the person ci the user aiter the manner indicated in Figure l, and the fastening devices 8 aresecured to connect the ends of the belt together. Vlhe structure is thenready for use. ItA is preferable to apply the belt after the mannershown in Figure l with the strap comprised or the tapes?) oiiterinostysothat the access es 6 will be exposed. Thus, when one learning to swimand using` one of the belts, tinus that lie has acquired a certaindegree of eiiiciencv and desires to test his progress, be may insert afinger criiingers through an @peni Y' 6 an il sufficiently coingriressthe upper part ot.' the buoyant. element l0 to withdraw the upper endthereof through the respectivo opening' 6, and'tlien Withdraw the vWholeing; Apropfirtionately decreased, the user Will `lind .necessity -toexercise his swimming slrill a pronortioiiately greater extent.r `ll eniay thus prr ,y withdrawing a buoyant unit l() occasionally Jfrom timeto time, until all of tlie buoyant elements have been reinoved.`Naturally, bet-ore lie has actually reached the buoyant unit. he willprobably discardthe entire belt, but there will be many stages betweentotal inability to sWiin and such proficiency qs ena-bles discarding thebelt7 all et which stages will lind appropriate adaptation by suchvaried displacement of the beltV as ref. aired to keep the student orswimmer up to bis swimming' ability.

lt should beunderstood that While the arinr-nt ot the belt, as showninFigure l.,V has been expressedv asgffrelerreiil, it is natuf preferredfor some purposes only. It is to be observed that Wlien'tliefpartsarethus arranged, the free spaceencircled by the beltV will correspondin yany given size of beltto the space seen in Figure 3; Whereas iii'the irirth oli the user ie 2greater and no larger belt be available byreversing tl e sides or laces ot the belt and causing* the strap made upoi the tapes toappear at the inside, a 4greater girth Will beaccommodated, as clearly seen in Figure et. rlhis mode oit' application,hoivf over. po t' sses the drawback that one must reach in e the belt tofind access to an openfi 6 for withdrawing a buoyant element l0.

be removed use.

when the belt is not actually in Y provide Y .securing the 'foldedportions to the baseportion. mit element. The belt displacement be-i;

tially. uniform-Width pockets,

This can bedone or ineither manner ol use, 'we buoyant element orbuoyant elements may possessing substantial .equivalency 'v'vithirap'-yK parelto-includeja beltcr beltinsiz llllliat is claimed isf.H i

ric to cause itsedg'es'lo approach eachother with one fold oi' greaterWidtliftlian the other and With; .heiapproacliing.edgesarranged toprovide an access opening therebetween, and

securing' 'thegtolded` portionsito'tlie base portionotttlie fabrictransversely of the strip Y`de the fabric'inte pockets each having arelatively "long section and' a relatively ,short sect-ion. f, v auf. f`1' 1 i' Q2. ln the art of constructing-variably buoyant articles ofapparel, folding aostrip volf fabric torcauszitsedgesto api-cach eachother with one told of greater Width than the .other and ivitli theapprcachngedges arranged to access openingtl-ierebetvveen, and

tion of divide the fabric into a` series of unitorin-Widtli pockets,tively long' the fabrictransversely of the strip to each having arelasection anda relativelyshort secln the Vart of constructing variablybuoy- `ant articles of apparel, folding'V a strip of falo-V ric tocans-sits edgesto approach eahch other Ywitli'one told of greater Widththan the other and with the approaching; edges arranged to provide anaccess *opening therebetween, and stitching vthe folded portions to vtheba. e portion of the fabric in a series of, transverse lines dividing'Vthe fabric into a-series of substanveach having a relatively longsection and a relatively short section.

substantially 4. .fin articlecl apparel coinprisinga series of fabricpoclret's each having al relatively long section and a relativelyshort-section and formed with ran access openingat the placeV of meetingci the sections;

5. An article of apparel comprisingl a seriesy ofl fabric pockets eaclihaving a relatively *long section anda relativelyshort section andtorined with an access opening at the place ol meeting 'of the sections,there being; a suflicient nuinber or said pockets and the pocketseingunited edgewise to produce a strip havinfr;` its longitudinaldimension perpeiidicular to the longitudinal dirnensionoit thepoclrets.'

6. il V.variably buoyantarticle oic apparel coniprising` a series olpockets each closed at both ends, and each oie said pockets having alateral opening; intermediate the ends for the introductionV and removalof a buoyant element.

7. A variably` buoyant,article'oi` apparel comprisingl a series'ofpockets or" somewhat elastic fabric. and abinclinp,V strap interinefdiate the ends ot the pockets of less elasticity than the fabric of thepocket-sand connect king` the pockets together. y

. 8. A variably vbuoyant article of apparell iii comprising a series ofpockets of somewhat elastic fabric, anda binding strap intermediate thepockets of less elasticity than `the fabric of the pockets connectingthe pockets together, said strap comprising a plurality of strips ofniaterialspaced to provide open ings into the pockets. t Y

9. ,A Variably buoyant belt comprising a strip of somewhat elasticfabric having its m margins folded upon itself to a substantiallymeeting conditionfandlines off-stitching atcaching the folded portionsto the base fabric to produce a Vseries of transversely arranged pocketsopen only at the place of approach l5 of the margins ofthe originalfabric toward each other. y v

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures. Y Y

HILL BOND.

:gg ELIZABETH S. BOND.

